Alan Shugart, the iconic -- and iconoclastic -- co-founder of Seagate Technology, is dead at 76, according to the company.

One of the creators of the multi-billion dollar hard drive industry, Shugart was also well-known for colorful antics like running his dog for Congress.

He died at about 2 p.m. Tuesday at Community Hospital in Monterey. Shugart's health had declined following open-heart surgery six weeks ago. Until the day of his death, Shugart was still checking work e-mails involving Al Shugart International, his start-up incubator in Santa Cruz, according to his daughter, Teri Shugart.

The legendary Shugart and his business partner Finis Conner, co-founded Seagate in 1979 in time to make the industry's first 5 1/4-inch drives for the IBM personal computer.

"I am a machine. I am a weapon of war. I am a destroyer of life in the service of life, the sword and shield of my human creators." Bolo Invincibilus, Mark XXIII, Model B (Experimental) 0075-NKE "Nike".